A moving modern art museum: Japan’s “Museum on Rails” debuts in 2016

▲ The “Museum on Rails” with a vehicle exterior designed by Mika Ninagawa. (Photo / Provided by JR East, same below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Japanese railway companies continue to offer passengers new ways to enjoy their train journeys. JR East has collaborated with multiple Japanese artists to launch an art-themed train, the “Museum on Rails,” operating on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata from spring 2016.

Designed as a “moving art gallery,” the Museum on Rails consists of six carriages and can accommodate up to 105 passengers. The exterior was designed by renowned Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa, featuring a depiction of the summer fireworks in Nagaoka painted on the train body. Inside, seven well-known artists including Matsumoto Takashi, Kubo Ken Tarou, and Arakami Miki have used sculptures, paintings, and video art to decorate the train, allowing passengers to enjoy the beauty of modern Japanese art while commuting. A café offering desserts and coffee made with local ingredients is also located in the middle carriage.

The “Museum on Rails” is expected to debut in spring 2016, running between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata. As a limited-service train, it will primarily operate on weekends and national holidays, with ticket prices yet to be announced.